Methylobacterium populi BJ001

Methylobacterium populi (strain ATCC BAA-705 / NCIMB 13946 / BJ001) is a pink-pigmented, aerobic, facultatively methylotrophic Gram-negative bacterium isolated from internal poplar tissues (Populus deltoides x nigra DN34). The pink color is due to the presence of carotenoids. The cells are asporogenous rods (singly, in pairs or in rosettes) and motile by one single polar or lateral flagellum. Methylobacterium populi can be separated from other members of the genus Methylobacterium. It is the only member of the genus Methylobacterium to be described as an endophyte of poplar trees, and differs from others Methylobacterium species in its carbon-source utilization pattern, particularly its use of methane as the sole source of carbon and energy. It also grows on C1 substrates, such as methanol, methylamine, formate and formaldehyde, and is able to mineralize the toxic explosives hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) and octahydro-1,3,5,7-tertanitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine (HMX) to CO2. According to their widespread distribution in a diversity of environments, Methylobacterium species may be suited for natural attenuation or in situ bioremediation of polluted sites and may play an important ecological role by consuming methane, the greenhouse effect. (EBI Integr8)